Kashmir is India's only Muslim-majority state The international
news magazine Time has apologised to Muslims after an image of
the Prophet Mohammed in its 16 April issue sparked riots in Kashmir.
Students offended by the image threw stones at police and burned
several cars in Indian-administered Kashmir, while security forces
responded with tear gas and bamboo canes.

The magazine was removed from news-stands by government order
in Malaysia, where Islam is the official religion.

The picture - part of a special report on "Jerusalem at
the time of Jesus" - showed Mohammed meeting the Archangel
Gabriel to receive a revelation from God.

Muhammad in the heavens above Mecca

Images of Mohammed are considered blasphemy in Islam.

'Unintentional affront'

The editor of Time's Asian edition apologised for what he called
"an unintentional affront to the Islamic faith.

"Time regrets the publication of this image," said
editor Adi Ignatius.

Police in Kashmir said as many as 5,000 people, mostly students,
demonstrated in the summer capital Srinagar and in nearby Anantnag
on Saturday in protest at the image.

Muhammad with Gabriel before the jewelled tree of paradise

Kashmir is India's only Muslim-majority state.

Sale banned

Authorities there banned the sale of the magazine following
the demonstrations.

It was also banned in Malaysia, although it is not clear how
much affect the prohibition will have, since news-stands had already
begun selling the next issue of Time.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was unable to explain
how the 16 April issue got through the country's censors.